Adam Jenkinson has been named valedictorian for the Grand County High School Class of 2014 and Deanna Irvin is salutatorian for the graduating class. Both will address their classmates during a commencement ceremony scheduled for 8 p.m. Thursday, May 22 on the north lawn of the school.

The commencement program lists a total of 127 seniors, which is believed to be possibly the largest class to ever graduate from GCHS.

Jenkinson and Irvin were selected based on the school’s point system, which includes grade-point average, extra-curricular involvement and awards, college entrance test scores, and other academic achievements.

Jenkinson and Irvin both represented GCHS as Sterling Scholars earlier this year, with Jenkinson winning the General Scholarship category and Irvin being named a runner-up in the Science category.

Both have been highly involved in school activities during the past four years, including band, drama, school clubs, Quiz Bowl, and sports. They were also named the school’s Students of the Year last year.

Jenkinson recently wrapped up an outstanding baseball career with the Red Devils, who finished second in state. One of the team’s top hitters with a .470 season average, Jenkinson batted a team-high .619 during the playoffs. Defensively, primarily at center field, Jenkinson led the team with 41 putouts during the season and playoffs, committing only one fielding error all year. Jenkinson also received the baseball team’s Teammate Award and earned Academic All-State honors in three sports: baseball, cross-country, and basketball. He played saxophone in the high school band, was the drum major for the GCHS marching band, and had a lead role in the school musical last fall.

Jenkinson will attend Yale University this fall on a full scholarship. He said he plans to move back to Connecticut in July to attend a special early initiation program for incoming freshmen.

As for his graduation speech, Jenkinson said, “I’m still trying to write it. I probably won’t know until Thursday what I’m going to say.”

Jenkinson is the son of Richard Jenkinson and Cheryl Jenkinson, both of whom are school teachers. Richard Jenkinson is also scheduled to speak at Thursday’s graduation, as he is retiring this year after 34 years as an educator, the last 20 of which have been at GCHS as an English teacher. He will share the stage with fellow keynote speaker and colleague Ed DeFrancia, a math teacher who is also retiring after a 30-year career, the last 17 years being at GCHS.

Irvin is the daughter of Ron Irvin and Mary Walker-Irvin. Mary Walker-Irvin teaches science at GCHS. Irvin said she plans to attend the University of Utah this fall and study chemical engineering.

While at GCHS, Irvin has participated in debate, tennis, marching band, Science Olympiad, Amigos Club, and the Earth Club. She also was an editor and writer for the monthly school newspaper, The Devils’ Advocate.

Irvin said she is looking forward to going on a 12-day trip to France and Italy along with 14 of her fellow students. The trip begins the week after graduation.

Those attending Thursday’s graduation ceremony are encouraged to arrive at least a half hour early (the program is scheduled to start at 8 p.m.). Guests requiring mobility assistance should park in the Technical Science and Art Center parking lot east of the main school building. A cart shuttle service will be provided for transportation to the seating area.

We're glad to give readers a forum to express their points of view on issues important to this community. That forum is the “Letters to the Editor.” Letters to the editor may be submitted directly to The Times-Independent through this link and will be published in the print edition of the newspaper. All letters must be the original work of the letter writer – form letters will not be accepted. All letters must include the actual first and last name of the letter writer, the writer’s address, city and state and telephone number. Anonymous letters will not be accepted.

Letters may not exceed 400 words in length, must be regarding issues of general interest to the community, and may not include personal attacks, offensive language, ethnic or racial slurs, or attacks on personal or religious beliefs. Letters should focus on a single issue. Letters that proselytize or focus on theological debates will not be published. During political campaigns, The Times-Independent will not publish letters supporting or opposing any local candidate. Thank you letters are generally not accepted for publication unless the letter has a public purpose. Thank you letters dealing with private matters that compliment or complain about a business or individual will not be published. Nor will letters listing the names of individuals and/or businesses that supported a cause or event. Thank you letters about good Samaritan acts will be considered at the discretion of the newspaper.